"I dare say you are, for you want to know whether or not your boat is implicated in the smuggling that was done last night," replied the commander jocosely.
"Which hit is very true, your honor; I do wish to know."
"Well, your worship, your friend Gray swore point-blank before the court that he had engaged your little steamer to tow the Golondrina to sea," added the captain.
"Which he lies like a himp of darkness!" protested Chickworth earnestly. "'E came to me yesterday to 'ire 'er, but I told 'im she was hengaged to the young gentlemen on board this steamer, and 'e couldn't 'ave 'er on no account. Which this is as true a thing as Giles Chickworth hever spoke in 'is life. I would swear to hit before the judge hover there."
"Perhaps you could do it here, for the judge will dine with us to-day," suggested the commander, watching the expression of the man.
"Which I am ready to do!" protested Chickworth, using his first grammatical "which" apparently by mistake.
"I am afraid you have had some dealings with these smugglers, Captain Chickworth; but I do not believe you will come to grief on account of anything that happened last night, for Gray told such a stack of lies that the judge did not believe a word he said, and the testimony of the boys contradicted about everything to which he swore. I think you are all right, my man; but I advise you to have nothing to do with smugglers."
"Which I don't, your honor!" exclaimed the owner of the boat.
"But Gray seemed to know all about your steamer, and he must have had the use of her at five shillings an hour."
"Which 'e 'as; but not to smuggle in 'er."